Breathing provides our bodies with oxygen, which is needed for metabolism and for removing carbon dioxide. It also regulates our pH and influences the circulatory and the autonomic nervous systems.
It’s important to breathe correctly, using the nose and not the mouth, in order to stop allergens and foreign bodies from entering the lungs. Breathing through the mouth may cause health conditions like sleep problems, tooth decay and more.
The diaphragm and the muscles between the ribs control the movement of the lungs. This movement pattern changes when we are under stress, making us inhale air irregularly and thus worsening our stress.
Breathing technique for stress relief:
- Get comfortable, lying down on your back or sitting in a chair.
- Place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest.
- Breathe in through your nose and feel your belly rise as it fills with air.
- Breathe out through your nose and feel your belly lower. The hand on your belly should move more than the one that’s on your chest.
- Repeat three times.
